Nigerian Akhere turns up as coach for Yashodham

While the I-League has seen domination by players from the African continent, it was surprising to see Nigerian Constantine Akhere turn up as coach for Yashodham High School (Goregaon) in the MSSA inter-school football at Azad Maidan yesterday.

Yashodham coach Constantine Akhere with his players during their
MSSA U-16 Div IV tie against Billabong at Azad Maidan. Pic/Atul Kamble

His efforts helped Yashodham (Goregaon) register a 3-2 win over Billabong (Malad) in the U-16 Div IV tie. Nikhil Puthran scored a brace while Dhruv Pakacher added to the tally for Yashodham. Jairaj Guleria and Aakash Banerjee scored a goal each for Billabong.

Constantine, like several footballers, has come to India to make a career in football. He missed a chance to be a part of a club team in India last year as he didn't get the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Till then, he is using the Football Association (FA) Level 1 and Level 2 coaching certificate to good use by training kids here.

"After playing in the Madina football League in Kuwait and in Libya, I got married to an Indian two years ago and since then, stay here with my wife and kid. I got a call for trails from an I-League team last season, but as I didn't have the ITC, I couldn't join the fray. I now spend time training kids," Constantine told MiD DAY.
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He informed that he had to apply directly to FIFA for an ITC as the Nigerian Football Federation wanted 1.6million naira before clearing him. According to Constantine, the clearance fee through FIFA cost him only USD 300. However, he is hopeful of a final clearance early next month.

u00a0As the transfer window for this year's I-league is shut, he will play for Karnataka Football Club in the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) Super Division. "I hope to give trails for I-league team Mohun Bagan next year. Also my agent in India is helping me with other I-league team trails," said the Virar
resident.